WCC Sesquicentennial Civil War series begins

Wayne Community College Foundation will help mark the 150th anniversary of several Civil War battles, by offering seven free lectures on campus between March and December.

The Sesquicentennial Civil War battle series, commemorating major battles fought in 1862, begins this week, with each session scheduled to coincide around the time frame the original event took place, said Jack Kannan, executive director of the Foundation.

The Foundation coordinated the series with Dr. Roy "Doc" Heidiker, historian for the 4th Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB and member of the N.C. Military History Round Table.

"Last year, we had a very successful Civil War series," Kannan said. "We had about 225 average attendance."

The turnout prompted the organizers to consider similar subsequent events.

"If this series is successful we will continue the series through 2013, 2014 and 2015," Heidiker said.

The first lecture will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Walnut 101 on the WCC campus.

"Dueling Ironclads: The Battle of Hampton Roads, 1862" will be led by Jeff Bockert, assistant curator of education for North Carolina Historic Sites. He will discuss the battle between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia.

Upcoming sessions of the lecture series will be held in Moffatt Auditorium at the college, all beginning at 7 p.m.

On April 3, Heidiker will speak about the Battle of Shiloh; May 15, Jim Hinnant and Kirk Keller will speak on Jackson's Valley Campaign; June 26, Keven Gambold will address The Seven Days Battle; Aug. 28, Col. (retired) Dan DeBree will discuss the Second Manassas Battle; Sept. 18, Josh Howard will discuss the Battle of Antietam; and Dec. 11, Randy Sauls will talk about the Battle of Fredericksburg and Goldsborough Bridge Battle.

Several changes and additions have also been made to the Foundation's Arts and Humanities program for the spring.

There are still openings in Bill Brettmann's class, "Why March is Madness Month: Sports as Religion," scheduled for Mondays at 5:30 p.m. beginning March 12 and running until April 2. The lecture format will also feature film clips and discussion. Registration is requires and cost is $20 for individual or $35 per couple.

The weekend of March 30-April 1, the play "1001," directed by Margaret Boothe Baddour, will be performed in Moffatt Auditorium. The play about diversity takes place during the time of "1001 Arabian Nights" as well as modern-day New York City. Tickets will be sold at the door, $5 for adults, $2 for students and senior citizens, and free to WCC students and staff.

New to the program schedule is an appearance by "Mark Twain," portrayed by John Clifton, on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in Moffatt Auditorium. Details will be announced in the coming week, but tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for students and senior citizens, and free to WCC students and staff.

Registration is still be accepted for "Civil War on the Neuse," a trip exploring the 1862 campaign in eastern North Carolina, which began with the Burnside Expedition in early 1862 and concluded with Foster's Raid that December. The group will travel to Morehead City on May 4 and the following day Sauls will led a tour to Fort Macon and New Bern.